# Army Prioritizes Drones, AI and Affordable Weapons

U.S. Army Under Secretary Michael Obadal has highlighted drones and counter-UAS, software and sensors, long-range fires, and AI-enabled military operations as procurement priorities, while emphasizing affordable mass alongside high-end weapons. He also pointed to private investment and commercial-component-based systems such as the Infantry Squad Vehicle. The signals describe strategic acquisition direction, not an open solicitation or announced award: they provide no contract value, schedule, or procurement contact.

- Contractors can use these priorities as demand signals when aligning offerings around counter-drone capabilities, sensors and software, long-range fires, AI, and lower-cost systems; no specific bid opportunity is identified.
- The Infantry Squad Vehicle example indicates Army interest in commercial components. Chevrolet is identified as its commercial chassis manufacturer, and the extracted entities describe related procurement and sustainment without a stated value or contract number.
- Procurement teams and industry stakeholders should distinguish these strategic priorities from funded requirements or active competitions; the signals do not specify funding, a solicitation timeline, or next steps.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military, Information Technology
**Topics:** Artificial Intelligence
**Published:** October 13, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Army (Army)
- U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)
- U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Ground Vehicle Systems Center (DEVCOM Ground Vehicle Systems Center)

### Vendors
- Chevrolet (Chevy) (Commercial chassis manufacturer for the Infantry Squad Vehicle)

### Key Quotes
> Here are all the courses of action based on the priorities that you gave, based on the environmental factors that the agents have been able to ingest and all of the long-term planning that goes into it.
> — Michael Obadal, Under Secretary of the U.S. Army

### Sources
- [Army Under Secretary Michael Obadal on Rethinking Weapons, AI and Modern Warfare](https://www.defensenews.com/video/2026/10/13/army-under-secretary-michael-obadal-on-rethinking-weapons-ai-and-modern-warfare) - Defense News
- [‘Noticeable shift in warfare’: US Army under secretary on the lessons of modern combat](https://www.defensenews.com/land/2026/10/12/noticeable-shift-in-warfare-us-army-under-secretary-on-the-lessons-of-modern-combat) - Defense News